ASK A LIBRARIAN

Unfortunately this service has been temporarily suspended until early 2018, due to high demand and the shortage of staff resources for this service.

You can make an appointment to use the research library and external borrowing is possible through the Inter Library Loans System at your local Public Library. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Individual users may conduct their own research in the library free of charge.

Information requests from other libraries, government organisations and museums

Free of charge

Information requests from individuals

The library will advise researchers conducting their own research on likely sources of information and refer them to other institutions free of charge.

Research enquiries

The library will undertake research or supply information to a member of the public for up to 1 hour free of charge. Any further research initiated by the requester will be charged at the rate of $40.00 per hour and include copies for each hour of research time. Research is undertaken by a team of library staff and may include volunteers working under the direction of the library staff. We aim to answer public enquiries within 2 weeks (subject to staffing resources and demand for this service).

Corporate enquiries

Enquiries from commercial organisations are charged at $90.00 per hour plus additional costs including photocopying, database searches etc. The response time for corporate enquiries is three working days. Enquiries which elicit no results are billed at the usual rate and clients are advised of resources consulted and advised of other avenues to pursue.

Who was Vaughan Evans?

Vaughan Evans OAM (1924-1993) was a founding patron of the library and a well-known figure in maritime history circles.

He was a tireless proponent of the Australian National Maritime Museum and a consultant to governments on maritime heritage issues.

A founder of the Australian Association for Maritime History, he was its long-time newsletter editor.

His extensive personal library, donated in 1986, formed a nucleus of the library's holdings. Vaughan was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1988 for his role in raising the standards and profile of the discipline of maritime history.